Reyes: Ransom paid to Abus but no AFP involvement

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes sang a different tune yesterday as he admitted that Abu Sayyaf bandits have been receiving staggering amounts of ransom for the release of their hostages, but clarified that no military official received part of the loot.

On the other hand, Philippine National Police (PNP) officials who divulged earlier a special report containing the alleged ransom payments, suddenly clammed up on the issue.

Reyes earlier insisted that no money changed hands in the recovery of captives seized by Abu Sayyaf terrorists from the posh resorts of Sipadan in Malaysia and Dos Palmas in Palawan.

"When you speak of the Abu Sayyaf, there’s no doubt that they received ransom," Reyes said in a press briefing. "You talk about Sipadan, you talk about Dos Palmas, so we are not going to argue about it anymore. It’s almost conventional wisdom."

It was the secretary’s first public admission of ransom payments to the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers who style themselves as religious warriors fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao.

As Armed Forces chief during the administration of deposed President Joseph Estrada, Reyes told a Cabinet meeting that the Abu Sayyaf amassed an estimated P545 million in ransom payments for foreign hostages seized from Sipadan on April 23, 2000.

Although he conceded that there were ransom payments, Reyes maintained that no military officials partook of the money.

"What we vehemently deny, and we say are falsehood are the accusations that generals, colonels and captains received money from the Abu Sayyaf, that was the object of (congressional) hearings, not to determine that ransom was paid," Reyes argued.

The PNP special report also indicated that the Abu Sayyaf faction that swooped down on Dos Palmas on May 27 last year also raked in some P20 million for the release of at least nine Filipino hostages.

Reyes asserted that he was not aware of the PNP’s special report even as he tried to cast doubt on its authenticity by saying the ransom payments could not be verified.

He said reports on alleged ransom payments could not be verified since both the giver and the receiver vehemently deny it.

"Nobody wants to admit anything," Reyes said.

Of the 20 people rounded up in Dos Palmas, only two remain in captivity – American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kansas. A third hostage, Filipina nurse Deborah Yap who was snatched from a hospital in Lamitan town on June 2, is also still being held captive.

Another American captured in Dos Palmas, Guillermo Sobero of Corona, California, was reportedly beheaded in June as a "gift" to the government.

Reyes said he could not confirm a story by the International Herald Tribune quoting sources as saying the Abu Sayyaf was demanding $2 million for the release of the Burnhams.

The newspaper said the demand was relayed by an Islamic group to the Philippine government which, in turn, forwarded it to the US Embassy.

PNP community relations group acting director Chief Superintendent Cresencio Maralit refused to confirm the report, saying any comment on it would only drive a wedge between the PNP and the military.

Camp Crame sources said their superiors were apparently trying to prevent a rift between PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza and Reyes.

Sources from the PNP and the military intelligence community have revealed earlier that they have monitored the negotiations between intermediaries and families of the Dos Palmas hostages.

Maralit said Mendoza has ordered Director Lucas Managuelod of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to inquire and determine who leaked the special report to the media.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. denied the existence of the PNP special report.

"There is no such PNP report," Lina told a press briefing.

However, he refused to elaborate, citing congressional inquiries which were about to wind up.

Among those who allegedly bought back their freedom were real estate businessman Reghis Romero and his friend Rissa Santos who allegedly paid P3 million although they were earlier believed to have been "rescued" during a clash between the Abu Sayyaf and pursuing soldiers in Lamitan town in Basilan.

The skirmish took place as the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers and their hostages were holed up at the Jose Torres Memorial Hospital on June 2.

The family of child captive RJ Recio and his father, travel writer Luis Raul "Buddy" de Guzman Recio, also shelled out P200,000 for their safe release, the report stated.

RJ testified on Friday at a Senate hearing that their captors led him, Romero and Santos out of the hospital.

Another hostage, Janice Go, was released on June 8 after paying P250,000 to the Abu Sayyaf, the report said.

Other ransom payments allegedly covered Francis and Teresita Guanzon who were freed on June 16 after paying P1 million, Lalaine Cruz, released on June 15 for P6 million, and Letty and Kimberly Jao, freed on June 16 to the tune of P10 million.

Other victims were released after paying unspecified amounts to the Abu Sayyaf. – With Perseus Echeminada